NHL stretch-run roundtable: East's wild-card race, Ovi's date with history
With less than three weeks remaining until the Stanley Cup Playoffs, theScore's NHL editors share their insight on some of the biggest topics heading down the stretch.
Which team grabs the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference?
Rangers. This is more a slog than a race, as no club has separated itself from the pack like St. Louis did out West. So when in doubt, give me the most talented team, and that's undoubtedly the underachieving Rangers. They have a tough schedule down the stretch, but if any of the vying clubs can dig deep and go on a bit of a run, I think it's New York. A red-hot Rangers squad would be the last opponent the Capitals want in Round 1. - Josh Wegman
Canadiens. No team appears to truly want the final playoff spot in the East, leaving it up for grabs night in and night out. That said, I'm giving the Canadiens an edge based on schedules. The Habs have the Blackhawks, Predators, Flyers, Bruins, and Red Wings on their upcoming slate. The Hurricanes, Maple Leafs, and Senators are the only playoff teams on Montreal's remaining docket, and Martin St. Louis' crew has played Toronto and Ottawa tight this season. - Sean O'Leary
Blue Jackets. This might be a long shot, but let me advocate for Columbus. Yes, the whole team forgot how to score for a second there. And yes, the Blue Jackets have an absolute gauntlet of a remaining schedule. However, they've been easy to root for this year after dedicating the season to the late Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau. Columbus has been able to rally around an unthinkable tragedy, and it'd be fitting to see the club's resilience get rewarded with a playoff berth. - Kayla Douglas
Which potential Round 1 playoff matchup has you most excited?
Stars vs. Avalanche. I believe these are the two teams best equipped to win the Stanley Cup this year. It would be a shame to see one of them gone before Round 2, but it'll certainly make for must-see TV in Round 1. Both squads loaded up at the deadline. Mikko Rantanen burning his former club would make for one heck of a story. But the Stars could be in tough without Miro Heiskanen, who may not be ready for the start of the playoffs. - Wegman
Panthers vs. Lightning. The Panthers and Lightning have met in the postseason twice over the past three campaigns, and both series were bloodbaths. Each team went all-in at the trade deadline this year, creating a few notable storylines. Not only would one of the league's best rivalries be Brad Marchand's first series as a Panther, but a battle for Sunshine State supremacy would also represent the first meeting between Matthew Tkachuk and Brandon Hagel since they scrapped and chirped at the 4 Nations Face-Off. This matchup would have it all. - O'Leary
Maple Leafs vs. Senators. Toronto fans might not be looking forward to this potential matchup, but it'd be a real treat for everyone who enjoys some good old-fashioned schadenfreude. The Senators always come to play against the Leafs, owning a 6-1-0 record against their Ontario rivals over the past two seasons. Throw in the fact that this would be the Brady Tkachuk-led core's first time in the playoffs, along with the Leafs' penchant for underperforming in the spring, and there could be a real upset looming. - Douglas
Will Ovechkin break Gretzky's goal record this season? If so, which game?
April 13 vs. Blue Jackets. I'm going bold and saying Alex Ovechkin gets it done in Washington's final home game with a hat trick. He won't give fans much time to soak in the record-tying goal because he'll break it moments later. Ovi has always had a bit of a flair for the dramatic, so don't put it past him to make history in style. - Wegman
April 17 @ Penguins. Game 82 against the Pittsburgh Penguins is the best time for Ovechkin to do it. Let's paint the perfect scene: Ovechkin ties the record at any point before the Capitals' regular-season finale, and the focus of the hockey world is entirely on him as he gears up to play his biggest rival on the precipice of his biggest achievement. Playoff seeding is already locked up for Washington, and no one wants this to drag into next season. Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux are among the legends in attendance, and Sidney Crosby is on the ice to lend a hand in helping Ovechkin celebrate a moment that will live forever in hockey history. - O'Leary
April 10 vs. Hurricanes. Ovechkin has a razor-thin margin for error if he's going to break the record this season. He's been scoring once every other game for the past month, but notched goals in back-to-back contests for the first time since February on Tuesday. Now just three from tying and four from the record, Ovi nets four in as many games to reach 895 with room to spare. - Kyle Cushman